Imran Khan's supporter spray paints outside Sharifs' office in London
London/Islamabad (PTI): A supporter of former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has spray painted on the wall of the building here where Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif's son Hussain has an office, in an act that constitutes "criminal vandalism" under law in the UK.
On Monday evening, a British Pakistani supporter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Chairman Khan, posted a photo on Twitter where he was seen standing against the boundary wall of Stanhope House, which was spray painted with the words: You can't kill IK chor .
The phrase is being construed by many on social media as being targeted at the Sharifs. The slogan appeared just days after Khan was shot and injured at his rally in Wazirabad.
Khan has repeatedly alleged that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, is among the three people who plotted to assassinate him. Shehbaz Sharif has dismissed Khan's allegations.
Khan, 70, suffered bullet injuries in the leg on Thursday when two gunmen fired a volley of bullets at him while leading a protest march against the Shehbaz Sharif government. He underwent successful surgery and has now been shifted to a private residence in Lahore.
Ali is routinely seen outside Avenfield House and Stanhope House, shouting anti-Nawaz slogans, the Dawn newspaper reported.
Some Twitter users praised Ali, however, others pointed out that his action falls under criminal vandalism in the UK.
Under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, a person caught doing graffiti can face a prison sentence of up to ten years or a fine if the damage costs more than 5,000 pounds.
If the damage caused is less than 5,000 pounds, an offender could face three months in prison or a fine of 2,500 pounds. Offenders can also be prosecuted under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, of 2003.
However, there was no word on whether a complaint or charges had been filed.
Nawaz Sharif, 72, who was convicted in the Avenfield properties case and sentenced to ten years in prison, has been in London since November 2019 after arriving there for a medical emergency.
His sons, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz who live in London, were declared as 'absconders' by a Pakistani court after they failed to appear in any of the three corruption cases lodged against them along with their father after a Supreme Court decision in July 2017.
Sharif was disqualified as prime minister in July 2017 by the Supreme Court following a challenge to his office by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan on the basis of the publication of the Panama Papers, which alleged that the Sharif family stashed away assets in London.
Someone sprayed this on Mian Sab office in London. pic.twitter.com/5dJAwaDBGw
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
